First-year experience

The First-Year Experience (FYE) has the intended purpose of providing first-year students with specific resources, support, and programming to allow for a successful transition and acclimation into the Carnegie Mellon and the College of Engineering communities. The FYE offers opportunities for you to explore and learn more about the different engineering majors in the college.

Online advising

The summer before first-year students start at Carnegie Mellon, the College of Engineering Dean's Office provides comprehensive advising using technologies such as Facebook, Skype, IM, podcasts, chatrooms and email. From understanding course schedules to determining what computer to buy, this early engagement helps new students acclimate better in the transition to college life.

First-Year Advisory Board (FAB)

The First-Year Advisory Board (FAB) is the voice of first-year students enrolled in the College of Engineering. The 12 elected board members act as a liaison between the first-year class and administration, staff, and faculty.

Major information sessions

At orientation, information sessions are offered to allow you a chance to meet faculty and upper-class students from each of the seven engineering departments.

Introductory engineering electives

You will be taking two introductory engineering electives of your choice in your first year. While these courses will develop your analytical skills, they will also introduce you to engineering principles and a specific field of engineering.

Community service-learning projects

Each year, the first-year class organizes one or two service-learning projects. The class works together to lend a helping hand to the community.

First-year success series

A series of workshop that are specifically designed to assist first-year students in achieving academic, personal, and professional growth. Each year the series is changed to accommodate students' needs and assessed outcomes.

Meet, Mix, and Mingle

This event allows first-year students to ask individual questions to major-specific engineering faculty and upper-class students in a casual environment. This event should help you declare your engineering major.

Orientation Blast

A social event that takes place the week of orientation in August to celebrate the incoming College of Engineering class. Students head off campus to Funfest Entertainment Complex for an evening of bowling, video games, pool, bowling, and a chance to socialize with classmates.

“There is very little success where there is little laughter.” Andrew Carnegie

“I think great artists and great engineers are similar, in that they both have a desire to express themselves. ” Steve Jobs

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ” Will Durant

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand” Chinese Proverb

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” Steve Jobs

“There's nothing I believe in more strongly than getting young people interested in science and engineering, for a better tomorrow, for all humankind.” Bill Nye

“At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes—an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive they may be, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new.” Carl Sagan

“Creativity...involves the power to originate, to break away from the existing ways of looking at things, to move freely in the realm of imagination, to create and recreate worlds fully in one's mind—while supervising all this with a critical inner eye.” Oliver Sacks

“I just believe that the way that young people's minds develop is fascinating. If you are doing something for a grade or salary or a reward, it doesn't have as much meaning as creating something for yourself and your own life.” Steve Wozniak